Max Verstappen has called for changes to the Sprint Race weekend regulations.
Three-time F1 champion Max Verstappen has called for a rule change to Sprint Race weekends following the disqualification of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from the 2023 US Grand Prix.
Key Takeaways:
Hamilton and Leclerc’s Race Exit: The drivers were disqualified for their cars’ excessive wear on the plank, a situation exacerbated by the Sprint weekend’s challenges and Austin’s uneven track. The problem, undetected until post-qualifying, forced them into their initial car setups.
Verstappen’s Perspective: Verstappen has raised concerns about the rigidity of car setup rules during Sprint weekends, underscoring the difficulty in adapting to track conditions after qualifying.
Proposed Revisions: Verstappen has put forward the idea of two separate Parc Fermé rules for Sprint weekends and voiced his dissatisfaction with the compulsory tyre selection protocol, advocating for more flexible race weekend regulations.
In light of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s disqualification at the US Grand Prix for plank wear beyond the permissible limit, Max Verstappen has spoken out against the current Formula 1 rules. This plank wear issue, primarily due to the demanding nature of the Austin circuit and the Sprint weekend’s format, was not identified until the qualifying rounds were over, leaving the drivers with their initial setups.
In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Verstappen expressed his frustrations with the present system:
“If you went even slightly the wrong way in FP1, you’re stuck with that setup for the rest of the sprint weekend. That really sucks.”
Further, Verstappen proposed the concept of implementing two distinct Parc Fermé conditions for Sprint weekends. He also criticised the current tyre selection rules, stating:
“We’ve had some really good sprint weekends this year, but I wasn’t completely satisfied. Take the ride height in Austin. Mercedes and Ferrari didn’t set their cars too low on purpose.
“But once you take the wrong turn [in terms of setup], there is no turning back. At most you can force something with the tire pressure. But if those prescribed values are already very high, then you’ve been seen.”
